What is Cottagecore?
Imagine walking into a quaint little cottage in the English countryside full of knick-knacks, cozy blankets and everyday life. There is comfort in the curated chaos. This is not a minimalist style by any means. Cottagecore doesn’t lend to a lot of empty wall space and leans into imperfection. It’s the perfect mix of new and old. Think a wall full of vintage picture frames collected throughout the years, plants galore, and slightly rustic finishes. There are layers of color, texture and mis-matched (but still coordinated) furniture that makes every guest feel instantly at home.
Know Your Color Palette
Identifying the color palette you want to use will make the process of collecting items easy. Stay away from anything too bright or vibrant. Muted shades like mossy greens, cream, blush pink, mustard yellow, gray and blue work well for a cottagecore style. A good rule of thumb is to choose one main color to ground your design, like dark wood tones, layer in neutrals, like cream and gray, and add in one or two accent colors, like sage green and blue, to round it out.
Before heading to the store, start by shopping your own home. Is there a color you see on repeat that might work? Doing this first will help you narrow down exactly what you’re looking for when you get to the store and will stop you from buying something you already own.
Stick With Simple Fabrics
When it comes to choosing fabrics, stick to simple woven fabrics for most of your design. If you want to include things like a cool leather chair or a velvet pillow, let those things be statement pieces in the room. Use bold fabrics sparingly as to not overwhelm the space.
Layer in a few cozy knit throw blankets or a plush rug for additional comfort. Woven baskets are a great way to add in texture and help bring in that slightly rustic vibe. The goal here is to make it feel like your guests can just come in and plop down on the couch without messing anything up or worrying if they should take off their shoes.
Add in Accessories
Cottagecore style is all about the accessories. But don’t feel like you need to run to the store and load up on a ton of new things all at once. Grab one or two items, like a new pair of bookends or a fun sculpture, each time you go to the store and you’ll have a complete collection in no time.
You want to be strategic about what you bring in. Only buy what you love instead of just buying something to fill a space. You want your collection of items to be a representation of your style and personality, rather than a bunch of random things you thought would look nice on your bookshelf. Cottagecore is a long-game design style.
Include Copper Accents
One element you’ll see in cottagecore style homes are copper accents. Whether you do it in the kitchen with a copper tea kettle or a set of copper mugs or in the living room with a picture frame or a pair of candlesticks, copper is a great way to add a little glitz when paired with more muted tones. It's also an easy way to infuse old-world charm into your decor without actually having to thrift old things.
Incorporate Plants
You can’t have cottagecore style without plants. Add them to your front porch or throughout the house - either way, foliage (real or fake) is a must. Even more than the actual plants themselves, the planters are what drive home the cottagecore feel. Copper, patinated blue, and terracotta are all great options that are inexpensive and easy to find.
